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So the end of the world is tomorrow? That's a pity because I was rather hoping to spend the day making cakes and reading a good book. Seems I might not get the chance if Harold Camping, the leader of an obscure religious sect in the U.S., is right in his prediction.

The report, produced in conjunction with the Partnership for New York City, graded 26 metro areas from Stockholm to Santiago on business opportunities, culture, livability, and innovation. And it's no surprise that the authors hometown of new York comes out on top.

Rape, while not a pleasant topic for civilised society to talk about, is all over the news this week.

As talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since last year because of a dispute over settlements, Barack Obama said the US and Jordan both wanted Israelis and Palestinians to go back to the negotiating table, adding that it was "more vital than ever" for Israelis and Palestinians to restart negotiations on a peace deal.

Shares in British banks were broadly up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as bailout talks in Brussels continued today.

The sexual assault charges against IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn in New York and his arrest have sent shockwaves across Europe, but how will it impact on the French political scene?

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on the 25th of April 1949 he spent part of his childhood in Agadir, Morocco. He was raised by socialist parents and accumulated diplomas from France's most prestigious schools including from Paris' top business and political schools, HEC and Sciences-Po but failed the entrance exam to l'ENA, which grooms France's future presidents. He went on to get a degree in public law and a PHD in economics.

After being arrested on Saturday over allegations of serious sexual assault, Dominique Strauss-Khan has made his first public appearance handcuffed and surrounded by policeman. He was taken to an unknown location while waiting for his hearing to start in a Manhattan court later on today.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the shock arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, threatened to disrupt key talks on the eurozone bailouts of Greece and Portugal.

Greg Mortenson, author of the bestseller "Three Cups of Tea," has been sued for fraud in a class-action case accusing him of fabricating much of his story to promote the book and his Montana-based charity.

The killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Special Forces came as something of a surprise to the world and many questions have been raised about the circumstances of his death, but there is little doubt that after this life will be different for both the Obama administration and for Pakistan.

Politicians, not least in the USA and Europe, are espousing greener energy and advocating massive reductions in carbon emissions in the relatively near future, whilst doing little to allay the fears of a generally ill-informed public on a practical means to bring this energy policy about. An obvious practical means but the one most prolific in doomsday scenarios, is the development, expansion and more intensive use of nuclear power.

Shares in Pearson were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the publishing group, which owns the Financial Times, said it would be buying Schoolnet for $230 million.

Shares in Centrica were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the energy company said its North American subsidiary, Direct Energy, would be acquiring energy retailer Gateway Energy Services Corporation for $90 million.

The Houston, Texas Spero News reported on Saturday 05 March 2011, that on the previous day a priest and three deacons are believed missing from the Coptic Christian community in the town of Soul (Sol), about 20 miles south of Cairo, Egypt. This followed after a mob, estimated at 4,000, attacked the homes of Coptic Christians and set fire to the Saints Mina and George Coptic Church in the town. After desecrating the Cross, the crowd set about pulling down the domes of the church building. Cent...

Presenting a look at the list of top 5 national universities in terms of the proportion of undergraduate students who have internship experience and the support available to them.

Last week, at the beginning of February, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced the closure of its renowned European Research & Development Headquarters in Sandwich, Kent, with the loss of some 2,400 jobs, many highly skilled and well-paid.

Shares in Ted Baker were down on the FTSE All Share in afternoon trading after the clothing retailer reported a rise in sales in the period running from 14 November 2010 to 8 January 2011.

With 2011 well under way it might be worth reflecting on the fact that this year will mark the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 11 September and the beginning of the still raging war in Afghanistan.

U.S. stocks rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday as consumer and jobless claims data reinforced the view the economic recovery is gaining steam.

Shares in National Grid were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading, despite the group reporting a strong rise in pre-tax profit in the half year ended 30 September.

On 14 October 2010, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California and former "Terminator" actor, was photographed on the steps of No. 10 Downing Street meeting his friend and British Prime Minister, David Cameron. Mr Cameron joked with the gathered reporters that the Governor would help to "terminate the budget deficit", before the pair turned and walked back into No 10. There is little doubt that the deficits of both the UK and California would be amongst the topics the two po...

The final, practical outcome of Labour's Conference, the election of the Shadow Cabinet and their allotted roles on the Opposition Benches was announced last week. A process, seen by many in Labour's own ranks as needlessly complex, excluded some former Cabinet members of previous administrations and allowed the new Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, to stamp his own authority on his cohort by deciding the precise roles each of the elected will play. Mr Miliband's choice for the post of Sha...

"Is Standard & Poor's being overly pessimistic in its view on the Irish economy?" The Irish Times asked its readership to poll and the voting was a fairly close 53 percent "Yes" to 47 percent "No" by the afternoon of Friday 27 August 2010.

Chinese consortium Kenny Huang appears to be a frontrunner in the bid for Liverpool FC as the club looks to tie-down a credible number of bids before the transfer deadline.

Chinese businessman Kenny Huang and CIC - the country's largest sovereign wealth fund - appear not to be bidding for Liverpool FC.

Willie Walsh and Willie Wonka. What do the two have in common? Whilst one is the owner and star of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the other is rather less endowed.

Along with one of the biggest write-downs in British corporate history, BP announced on Tuesday 27 July 2010, that its Chief Executive Officer, Tony Hayward, is to step down on 01 October. He will be replaced as CEO by Executive Director and the company's current head of US operations, Robert Dudley.

Now however BP faces yet more attacks as U.S. legislators are looking not just at BP's safety precautions in the Gulf of Mexico, but at the possibility that the company may have lobbied for the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the man convicted of killing 270 people with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. Of the 270 victims 190 were from the U.S.

Three men accused of being members of al-Qaeda have been arrested in Norway for plotting terrorist attacks.